Rock of Gibraltar Colt Tops Auction

A colt by Rock of Gibraltar was easily the top lot when he brought 240,000 euros (about $355,000) at the Nov. 21 penultimate session of the Goffs November foal sale in Ireland.

Paul Shanahan outbid trainer Dermot Weld to win the fight for the half-brother to group III winner Tournedos. The colt was consigned by Heidi Shanahan’s Blakestown Stud on behalf of Pat Grogran.

A Johannesburgcolt from Charlie and Alice Mason’s Norfolk-based Silfield Bloodstock was in demand as well when he sold for 130,000 euros (about $192,000) to Brendan Holland’s County Cork-based Grove Stud.

Out of the Belong to Memare Security Interest, he was bred by Stephen Hillen and Redmyre Bloodstock. Security Interest was a $30,000 RNA at Keeneland November last year when carrying the Johannesburg colt.

A Barathea filly from the family of British Classic winners Love Divine and Sixties Icon was sold from Ashleigh House Stud to the Rogers family’s Airlie Stud for 120,000 euros (about $177,000).

In all, 245 horses were cataloged, 214 offered, and 159 sold for 5,559,700 euros (about $8.2 million), an average of 34,967 euros (about $51,000). While the percentage of those selling was sharply down compared with last year, the average rose slightly. The 2006 figures were 217 cataloged, 186 offered, and 168 sold for 5,629,700 euros, an average of 33,510 euros.